Woman sent to prison for Allegan man's death

ALLEGAN - A 32-year-old Kalamazoo woman who accidentally drove over a man she was partying with in the Allegan State Game Area, then left him to die without telling anyone, was sentenced to more than four years in prison today.

Betty Ann Stanfill earlier pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the January 2007 death of Clarence Stevens, 68, whose body was discovered by a hiker in the game area.

Police said Stanfill and Stevens, of Allegan, had been in Stevens' car parked in the game area near Allegan when he apparently collapsed outside the vehicle. Detectives said Stanfill apparently panicked and drove over him before heading to Kalamazoo.

Police used tips to track down the car and arrest Stanfill about a week after Stevens died.

In court today, Stanfill apologized to Stevens' family.

"I know I shouldn't have left him. I didn't realize (his injuries) were that bad," she said. "Drugs and alcohol have played a bad part in my life."

Police said Stanfill was using cocaine in the car.

She was sentenced to 50 months to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay $1,298 in restitution to cover funeral expenses.